The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today
inaugurated Textiles India 2017, India’s first ever mega textiles trade fair, being
held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Addressing the gathering at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, the PM said that based on Make in India, the textile industry is being infused with the mantras
of 'skill,scale,speed' & 'zero-defect, zero-effect'. The PM said that the
textile sector offers significant employment opportunities, it being the second
largest employer after agriculture. The
Prime Minister expressed the hope that Textiles India 2017 helps familiarize
global & Indian leaders with India’s enabling policy environment, strengths
& vast opportunities. The full text of the Prime Minister’s address is
available here.
The PM had earlier inaugurated the Textiles India exhibition, organized at Helipad Ground, Gandhinagar.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Textiles Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani said
that history will be created in the field of textiles today, with the success
of this mega event. The Minister said that Textiles India 2017 gives fillip to Honourable
Prime Minister’s dream of Make in India. She said that besides seeking to engage
participants in coversations leading to strategic partnerships that encourage investments,
the mega event seeks also to bring together leaders in the global textile value
chain together on one platform, to envision a glorious future for the Indian textiles
industry. She informed that global citizens from 106 countries, 15,000 Indian
buyers and sellers, 2,500 international buyers, international delegates and
representatives and artisans and weavers who enthrall us with their craft have come
together under one roof on this occasion.
Smt.
Irani said that Textiles India 2017 brings together textiles, traditions and
technology. She said it compliments the Prime Minister’s desire to strengthen
the entire Indian textile value chain, comprising the journey of Farm to Fibre,
Fibre to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign.
Minister of State for
Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta, and Ministers representing Gujarat, Telangana,
Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Assam and Karnataka were among several dignitaries who
participated in the inaugural session. Governor of Gujarat, Shri O. P. Kohli; Chief
Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N.
Chandrababu Naidu and MoS, Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta addressed the audience. Minister
for Irrigation, Handloom and Textile and Sericulture, Government of Assam, Shri
Ranjit Dutta; Minister for Textiles, Government of Karnataka, Shri Rudrappa
Manappa Lamani and Minister for Cooperation, Textiles and Marketing, Government
of Maharashtra, Shri Subash Deshmukh and Chairman, Jharkhand State Gramodyog
Board, Shri Sanjay Sheth were also present.
Chief Minister of the host state Gujarat,
Shri Vijay Rupani said that Gujarat is fortunate to have gotten the opportunity
to host Textiles India 2017. Shri Chandrababu Naidu complimented the Ministry
of Textiles for organizing the event, saying that the textiles sector will continue
to survive for times to come.
Several captains of the
industry were also present on the occasion, including President, US Polo
association, Mr. David Cummings;
CEO, UK India Business Council, Mr. Richard Heald; MD, Arvind Mills, Shri
Sanjay Lalbhai; Chairman and MD, Raymond, Shri Gautam Hari Singhania; Chairman,
Aditya Birla Group, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla and Chairman of Korea Federation
of Textile Industries (KOFOTI), Mr. Kihak Sung.
About Textiles India 2017
The
mega event is being organized to:
·
connect
and collaborate with global manufacturers, investors and buyers
·
Explore
opportunities and strengths of textiles and apparel manufacturing in India for
global investors
The event will have B2B, B2G and G2G
meetings with 2,500 international buyers, 1000+ international and domestic
exhibitors and 15,000 domestic visitors. Country sessions, state sessions,
round tables and sectoral seminars will be held during the three-day expo, many
of which will be chaired by Union Ministers. Fashion shows and thematic shows
will also be held.
The international conference will be held
with participation from global and Indian leaders in the textile industry,
technical experts and policy makers from national and state governments. The
event will provide an excellent platform for B2B interactions and for exploring
investments and technological tie-ups across various segments in the textiles
value chain.
The curtain-raiser function for the event
has been held in a very colourful manner, on April 18, 2017, at Crafts Musuem,
New Delhi. Further details of the event can be found at the event
website, here. The promotional video of the event can
be watched here.
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GG/KSP/DJM/J.Khunt